The University of the Philippines-Marine Science Institute (UPMSI) said Thursday that it is still willing to extend its services to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) amid allegations made by one of its officials that the institution is milking government funds amounting to P500 million  for consultation fees.

"The UPMSI recognizes the DENR as a long-standing partner in its quest to conduct research and render public service to the Filipino. Hence, the UPMSI remains willing and open to extending its services to the DENR, no matter the passing opinions of the day," the Institute said.

The UPMSI issued the statement after the controversial remarks of Environment and Natural Resources Undersecretary and spokesperson Benny Antiporda against the Institute's experts whom he called as "bayaran" or paid hacks during a "Laging Handa" briefing on Wednesday.

Antiporda claimed that the UPMSI, who has been criticizing the Manila Bay beach nourishment project, has been paid P500 million for consultations since 2016.

However, the UPMSI clarified that the amount paid by the DENR, which was far from the alleged P500 million claimed by Antiporda, was used for collaborative projects in the past 10 years when the agency needed the institution's services.

"Specifically, the correct amount is P364,073,909.40 total for the last decade, spanning ten collaborative projects between the UPMSI and the DENR as well as co-sponsorship support for a scientific symposium. It is simply the cost of the collaborative projects for which the DENR had the need for the expertise of the UPMSI," it emphasized.

According to the Institute, this P364-million supported projects tasked with nationwide standardized assessments of National Integrated Protected Areas Systems sites, enhancing capacity for management and rehabilitation of marine ecosystems, and strengthening understanding of Philippine waters from the West Philippine Sea to the Philippine Rise in the Pacific. 

"This amount covered the cost of scientific research and investigation, from the use of laboratories and research equipment and facilities to fieldwork and support to research assistants. The funds also supported capacity-building of national government agencies and Higher Education Institutions personnel," the UPMSI explained.

"These costs are typically shouldered by clients requesting the UPMSI’s services, as the Institute has no access to funds that would support the conduct of scientific inquiry on top of the research it is already doing. To reiterate, all of the UPMSI’s research and development activities are project-based, with very specific fund disbursement guidelines and limitations," it stated.

The Institute also bared that its internal Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) funds are limited to maintaining the laboratory facilities and field equipment in Diliman and the Bolinao Marine Laboratory.

The UPMSI also said it welcomes being audited by the Commission on Audit (CoA) "at any time" after Antiporda called state auditors to look into the payments of the government to the university.

"This is only appropriate for any government office or agency, given the understanding that any funding received by the Institute is ultimately channeled into scientific projects meant to protect the Philippines’ marine ecology and to promote the development of the nation -- as should be the case for any government office or agency," the UPMSI said.